Unique 11-Hour Glacier Hiking and Ice Cave Tour Under Katla Volcano from Reykjavik

Experience Iceland’s fascinating ice caves with this tour under Katla volcano. If you love adventure and want to enjoy some truly unique scenery in South Iceland, book this half-day tour now. 

This tour departs from Reykjavik. Your guide will pick you up at your chosen meeting location in the city and take you and the rest of your group in a super jeep.

You’ll start on Route 1, Iceland’s Ring Road that circles the entire country, but the car will quickly turn off on a different path that will take you through incredible landscapes. Both mountains and glaciers will be visible around you as you ride on the rough and rugged road to your destination.

The first stop is the Kotlujokull glacier, an icefall of Myrdalsjokull glacier. You’ll put on your helmet and crampons and walk a short distance to the ice cave entrance. You may need to climb a few steps on ladders at the entrance, but it’s not especially difficult.

As these are natural ice caves, the conditions are constantly changing. Once inside, you’ll be mesmerized by the layers of different colored ice and volcanic ash, which give the glacier a unique appearance, almost like stripes. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you about the area, the ice cave, and the glacier’s history.

After exploring the initial ice cave, the group will walk around with the guide and explore smaller ice caves if they are accessible before returning to the super jeep.

Katla is one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. It lies beneath the glacier and has erupted at least 20 times in the last thousand years. Its last eruption was a small one in 1999 that melted some of the glacier ice around it.  Iceland is home to some very scenic and otherworldly places, and the ice caves above Katla volcano are among the best.

After finishing the ice caves, if daylight allows, your group will stop at some of the country’s most majestic waterfalls on the ride back to Reykjavik. This includes Skogafoss, which measures 82 feet (25 meters) wide with a drop of about 200 feet (60 meters). A legend about this waterfall says a chest filled with gold and treasures can be found behind it.

You’ll also stop at the spectacular Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you can walk directly behind. It’s on the Seljalands River, which flows from Eyjafjallajokull volcano, and has a similar drop of around 200 feet (60 meters). Depending on the time of year and the sunlight available, you may be able to hike around the waterfalls and enjoy the fantastic views. 

After these two stops, your jeep will continue the journey back to Reykjavik. 

This incredible 11-hour ice cave and glacier hiking tour will allow you to immerse yourself in some of Iceland’s most beautiful landscapes. Check availability now by choosing a date.